Breaking News: 8 People Murdered by Gunmen in Puerto Escondido

The Oaxaca coastline acts as a funnel for drug traffickers looking to move drugs into the US, and the victims, who were shark fisherman, used larger vessels than regular fishing boats.

Although Mexico has had over 100,000 gang-related murders since 2007, the popular resort town has, for the most part, escaped much of the violence that has plagued parts of the rest of the country.

Investigators suspect the victims may have been “engaged in other activities at sea aside from fishing,” according to a prosecutor’s statement, and are following that line of suspicion in their early investigation.

The assailants entered a house in Puerto Escondido where the victims were staying and opened fire, killing four of them immediately.

The popular resort town has, for the most part, escaped much of the gang violence that has plagued much of Mexico.